The I-R-S says the average refund this year is down eight percent from last year under the new federal tax code. Many taxpayers are now wondering if their total amount of taxes paid has gone up this year. Frank Holzenthal with the Louisiana C-P-A Society advises filers to compare this year’s tax liability line with last year’s for a better picture…
cut 11 (10) “….little bit”
The I-R-S also notes that the number of returns received for the first official week was down 12-percent from the first week of last year’s tax season.

LSU AgCenter aquaculture specialist Greg Lutz says this year’s crawfish crop is coming along well and the warmer temperatures recently are helping. Lutz says if you see a decline in production, don’t blame the trappers, blame Mother Nature…
cut 6 (10) “….find em”

Rapides Parish Sheriff William Earl Hilton announces he will not seek re-election. Hilton was first elected sheriff in 1992, retired in 2008, but was elected again in 2011 and he says this retirement is final…
cut 8 (08) “…when I retired”
Hilton says his proudest accomplishment is supplying each school with a school resource officer.

What a huge win for the 19th ranked LSU basketball team last night. The Tigers came from behind again to beat 5th ranked Kentucky 73-71. They won the game on a tip-in by Kavell-Bigby Williams at the buzzer to earn the program’s second victory over a Top 5 team on the road. LSU is 20-and-4.